Rotary pump or motor



Dec. 6, 1966 A. KUTTES 33%,653

ROTARY PUMP OR MOTOR Original Filed June 6, 1961 2 SheecS-Sheet l Tiql...

INVENTOR.

3 ANTHONY KUTTES ATTORNEYS Dec, 6, 1966 A. KUTTES ROTARY PUMP OR MOTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed June 6, 1961 INVENTOR.

ANTHONY KUTTES ATTORNEY5 Unite States Patent Ofie 3,28%,ti53 Fatented Dec. 6, 1966 3,289,653 RQTARY PUMP R MU'IOR Anthony Kuttes, 2127 E. 20th St, Gakland, Calif. Continuation of application Ser. No. 115,173, June 6, 1961. This application Oct. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 405,212 4 Claims. (Cl. 123-16) This is a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 115,173, filed June 6, 1961, now abandoned.

This invention relates generally to rotary vane devices of the class that may be employed to convert gaseous pressure to mechanical energy and to convert mechanical energy to gaseous or hydraulic pressure, and is particularly directed to an improved device of this type which is extremely simple in construction while possessing a very high operational efiiciency.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a rotary vane pump or engine wherein the force of power is exerted near the end of the vane and the vane travels in a complete circle to extend the influence of the force over a large working volume.

It is another object of the invention to provide a relatively simple rotary vane pump or motor which has a minimum of moving parts whereby the problems of synchronization, cooling and lubrication of the parts are materially simplified.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described which when operated as an internal combustion engine does not require a maximum of compression of the combustible fuel to deliver its maximum of power.

It is another object of the invention to provide an internal combustion engine of the class described wherein the compressing fuel gases exert some force of power against the vane even prior to ignition.

Yet another object of the invention contemplates the delivery of power over about three-fourths of each cycle of operation of an internal combustion engine.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an internal combustion engine having a rotary vane piston which travels continuously in one direction to thereby facilitate operation at relatively low pressure and with relatively low octane fuels.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a rotary vane device of the class described wherein there is no clearance between the vane and cylinder block so as to define an internally sealed compression chamber self contained with in the cylinder.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described which when operated as a compressor or pump delivers two stages of pressure within one revolution, thereby delivering substantially continuous pressure.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

FIGURE 1 is a plan view with portions broken away of a rotary vane pump or engine in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken at line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken at line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a schematic illustration depicting the position of the rotary vane relative to the other components of the device at several points in its cycle of operation, and

FIGURE 5 is an illustration similar to FIGURE 4 depicting vane position at several further points in its cycle of operation.

Considering now the invention in some detail and referring to the illustrated form thereof in the drawings there is provided a rotary pump or motor 11 which generally includes a cylinder block 12 and cylinder head 13 sealingly secured thereto as by means of head bolts 14 and an interposed gasket 16 to thereby define closed stator chamber 17. A cylinder 18 is disposed longitudinally within the stator chamber and journalled between the head and end wall of the block for rotation about an eccentric axis. The cylinder is of a diameter to contact the block wall along a surface of tangency during rotation. More specifically, the opposite ends of the cylinder 18 engage opposed annular grooves I5 21 respectively formed in the facing surfaces of the block end wall and head in eccentric relation to their axis. Roller bearings 22 are jo-urnalled in the outer side walls of the grooves to facilitate ready rotation of the cylinder therein. In addition, a sealing ring 23 is provided in each groove in bearing relation to the periphery of the cylinder in order to provide a seal therebetween. The cylinder 18, block end wall and head thus define a rotor chamber 24 sealed from the stator chamber 17 Within the chamber 24 and projecting radially through a slot 26 in the Wall of cylinder 18 there is disposed a rotary vane 27 secured to a drive shaft 281. The shaft is journalled for rotation about the block. axis, as by means of bearings 29, 31 respectively recessed within the block end wall and head, with the shaft extending through the head to facilitate ready connection to auxiliary apparatus.

It is particularly important to note that the vane 27 extends longitudinally between the facing surfaces of the block end wall and head and radially from a hub 32 on the shaft and through the slot 26 into contact with the block. The vane carries sealing means on its end and side edges to effect a pressure tight rotary seal between the vane and block peripheral wall and end wall as well as the head. Such sealing means preferably comp-rises a plurality of compressible Uashaped elements 33 which are embedded within the vane edges in circumscribing relation thereto so as to function in a manner analogous to that of conventional piston rings. Moreover, a sealing element 34 is mounted within the slot 26 in encompassing relation to the vane, such element sealing the slot while permitting radial movement of the vane relative to the cylinder 13. It is to be further noted that the hub 32 is fluted to receive a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally elongated compressible sealing bars 36. The hub radius is such that the bars bear closely against the inner wall of a cylinder 18, along a line diametrically opposed to the line of contact between the cylinder and the block, during rotation of the hub and cylinder to thereby define a pressure tight seal therebetween. Finally, a plurality of longitudinally extending compressible sealing bars 37 are provided in the inner wall surface of the block along its line of contact with the outer periphery of the cylinder 1%. Like the bars 36, the bars 37 effect a pressure tight rotary seal between the block and cylinder walls.

It will thus be appreciated that with the above described arrangement of block, cylinder, and vane together with the various seals provided therebetween, the vane partitions the stator and rotor chambers into sealed independent sections of continuously varying volumes during the vane rotation. More specifically, the vane divides the rotor chamber into a leading section 24A extending from the leading face of the vane to the seal between the hub and cylinder, and a trailing section 24B extending from such seal to the trailing face of the vane. In addition the vane divides the stator chamber into a leading section 17A extending from the leading face of the vane to the seal between the cylinder and block wall, and a trailing section 17B extending from this seal to the trailing face of the vane. As the vane and cylinder rotate in eccentric relation to each other the vane decreases the volumes of the stator and rotor leading sections 17A, 24A while increasing the volumes of the trailing sections 17B, 24B, and vice versa. Moreover, the volume of stator trailing section 17B begins to increase from minimum volume just prior to the time minimum volume is attained in the rotor leading section 24A. Conversely, the volume of the stator leading section 17A begins to decrease from maximum volume just prior to the time maximum volume is attained in the rotor trailing section 24B. Likewise, minimum volume of the stator leading section 17A is closely approached at the time the volume of rotor trailing section 17B begins to increase from its minimum value, the converse relationship existing between the stator trailing section and rotor leading section.

The foregoing volumetric relationships between the various sections of the stator and rotor chambers as facilitated by the rotary vane are utilized to great advantage in the present invention to accomplish conversion of gaseous energy to mechanical energy, or mechanical energy to fluid pressure. More specifically, in the utilization of the rotary vane device for such purposes, rotor chamber inlet and outlet ports 38, 39 are provided in the head 13 in communication with the chamber closely adjacent and on opposite sides of the seal effected by the hub bars 36. The inlet port 38 is on the side of the seal corresponding to the direction of rotation of the vane, and the outlet port 39 is on the other, or contrarotation, side of the seal. Stator chamber inlet and outlet ports 41, 42 are likewise provided in the head in communication with the stator chamber at points hearing similar relationships to the seal effected by the bars 37 as the ports 38, 3% to the rotor chamber seal effected by bars 36. It will thus be appreciated that over nearly the entire arc of revolution of the vane, rotor inlet and outlet ports 38, 39 respectively communicate with the rotor chamber trailing and leading sections 24B and 24A. Similarly, the stator inlet and outlet ports 41, 42 respectively communicate with the stator chamber trailing and leading sections 173 and 17A.

In the employment of the rotary vane device as a pump or compressor, the inlet ports 38, 41 are communicably connected as by means of inlet conduits 43 to a source of fluid to be compressed or pumped. The outlet ports 39, 42 are in turn communicably as by means of outlet conduits 44 to a storage reservoir, pipe line, or the like which is to receive the fluid. With such arrangement and the shaft 28 rotated by a prime mover (not shown) consider the vane to be initially positioned as depicted in phantom line in FIGURE 4. As the vane rotates from this position towards the full line position depicted in the figure, the vane pushes fluid previously drawn into the stator chamber through port 41 out of the port 42 to the receiving pipe line, or the like, with substantial pressure, the volume of stator leading section 17A approaching a minimum. Simultaneously, additional fluid flows into the stator trailing section 17B as such section approaches maximum volume. At the same time fluid is sucked into the rotor trailing section 245 from the source through port 38 as such section begins to increase from its minimum volume. The vane also begins to push fluid previously drawn into the rotor leading section 24A out of port 39 to the receiving pipe line .but at reduced pressure inasmuch as the volume of section 24A is at this time nearly maximum.

As the vane rotates further and attains the full line position of FIGURE 4, the pressure of the fluid delivered from the outlet port 39 approaches a peak, the volume of leading section 24A approaching a minimum. The volume of trailing section 24B is now approaching a maximum and is hence nearly full of fluid. Also the vane having passed the seal between the block 12 and cylinder I8 (viz., passed the position of the vane depicted in FIGURE 2), the volume of the stator chamber that was previously the trailing section 17B and therefore full of fluid, now becomes the leading section 17A. The vane hence begins to push the fluid from the leading section of the stator chamber out of the port 42. Also fluid begins to flow int-o the trailing section 173 through port 41. Such processes continue in the stator chamber until the phantom line position of the vane depicted in FIG- URE 4 is attained and a pressure peak in the fluid pumped out of port 4-2 is obtained in the manner previously described. Prior to this time, however, the vane is at the position denoted in full line in FIGURE 5 closely approaching the rotor chamber seal betwen the hub and cylinder 18. The trailing section 24B of the rotor chamber with full volume of fluid hence now becomes the leading section. The vane consequently begins pushing the fluid out of the new rotor leading section through port 39 and sucking fluid into the new trailing section through port 38. It will thus be appreciated that through the action of the wane in both the stator and rotor chambers, fluid is continuously delivered to the receiving pipe line with two pressure peaks per cycle. Furthermore, a large working area of the vane contacts the fluid Whereby high efliciency is attained.

Considering now the employment of the rotary vane device as an internal combustion engine, it is to be noted that several modifications to the apparatus thus far described are required. More specifically, means are provided to facilitate controlled communication between the rotor chamber leading section 24A and stator chamber trailing section 17B. Preferably such means includes a jumper element 46 having a passage 47 therethrough secured to the head in bridging relation to the external ends of ports 39, 41 with the passage in sealed communication therewith. In addition, valve means is provided to selectively open and close the line of communication between the ports at predetermined points of the rotary cycle of the vane. To this end, a circular plate 48 is best coaxially secured to the shaft 28 and recessed in the head to intercept one of the ports, e.g., port 39, and normally block passage therethrough. An aperture 49 provided in the plate at a location registerable with the port passage facilitates opening thereof at a predetermined point of each cycle of revolution of the shaft and vane. For internal combustion engine service, the aperture is advanced from the vane by an angular distance commensurate with registration with the port 39 at the instant the wane is positioned just in advance of port 41, viz., when the vane is in the full line position of FIGURE 4. In addition, the device is further modified for employment as an internal combustion engine by the provision of a spark plug 51 mounted within the block wall adjacent the port 41.

With the internal combustion engine provided as just described a suitably timed ignition system (not shown) is connected to spark plug 51. In addition, an intake manifold and canburetor (not shown) or other source of combustible fuel are communicably connected to inlet port 38, while an exhaust manifold (not shown) or the like is communicably connected to outlet port 42. Assuming the shaft 28 to be in rotation due to inertia provided by a flywheel, the power stroke of a similar engine connected to the shaft in opposing relation, or the like,

and the vane to be approaching the position depicted in FIGURE 2, the suction created by the moving vane draws fuel into the rotor chamber trailing section 24B through port 38. The port 39 is in closed condition at this time due to the plate 48 and therefore fuel previously in the rotor chamber lead-ing section 24A is being compressed. As the vane assumes the full line position of FIGURE 4 and the fuel in section 24A is compressed to substantially the maximum extent, the aperture 49 in plate 4-8 registers with port 39 to hence provide communication between this port and port 41. The compressed fuel is thus exhausted at high pressure from section 24A to stator chamber trailing section 17B. The vane then advances a slight distance further sufficient to permit transfer of the entire charge of compressed fuel to section 17B, the position of the vane being now as depicted in phantom line in FIG- URE 5. The plate 48 at this point of the rotary cycle of the vane re-effects closure of the port 39. In addition, the ignition system is timed to tire the spark plug 51 when the vane is in this position. The compressed fuel in the stator chamber section 17B consequently ignites and the combustion gases expand against the vane to initiate a power stroke. The stroke drives the vane and shaft through their cycle of rotation. It is particularly important to note in this regard that the gases expand against the wane near its end, thus facilitating the highest compounding of pressure. Also prior to ignition the compressed fuel exerts some force upon the vane. Thereafter, the expanding gases exert pressure upon the vane over a substantial portion of its rotational arc to materially extend the influence of the power stroke over a large volume and derive a maximum of power from the gases.

Following initiation of the power stroke and while the gases are expanding against the vane, spent combustion gases existing in the stator chamber leading section 17A from the previous cycle are swept by the vane out of the port 42. When the vane passes the full line position depicted in FIGURE 5, compression of the fuel previously drawn into the rotor chamber 24 during the initial portions of the cycle is initiated. Simultaneously the sucking of fuel into the trailing section 24B begins. Thereafter another cycle of operation in the manner hereinbefore described commences.

There is thus provided by the present invention a relatively simple rotary vane device having relatively few moving parts that may be employed as a pump, compressor, or internal combustion engine. By virtue of the simplicity and few moving parts, lubrication problems are greatly simplified. In fact the preferred manner of lubrication of the device when employed as an internal combustion engine is by the addition of a lubricant to the fuel. The problems of cooling are also materially decreased and can be readily facilitated by the provision of coolant channels 52 and 56 in respectively the walls of the block 12 and of the cylinder 18. Air or water is then introduced to and extracted from channels 52 through appropriate passages (not shown) in the head. Air is preferably introduced to the channels 53 in a similar fashion.

What is claimed is:

1. A rotary vane device comprising means defining a closed cylindrical stator chamber, a cylinder mounted for rotation about an eccentric axis within said stator cham bet and defining a rotor chamber sealed from said stator chamber, said cylinder sealing engaging the peripheral walls of said stator chamber along a line of tangency, a shaft disposed in said rotor chamber and journalled for rotation about the central axis of said stator chamber, a vane mounted rigidly on said shaft and projecting radially through said cylinder in sealed relation thereto and into sealing engagement with the peripheral walls of said stator chamber, said vane extending longitudinally through said rotor and stator chambers and sealingly engaging the end walls thereof, sealing means effecting a rotary seal between said shaft and the inner peripheral wall of said cylinder along a line of contact in diametric opposition to said line of tangency between the cylinder and stator chamber peripheral walls, means defining ports in communication with said motor chamber on opposite sides of and closely adjacent said rotary seal, means defining ports in communication with said stator chamber on opposite sides of and closely adjacent said line of tangency means communicably interconnecting the rotor chamber port on the side of said rotary seal in contra-direction to rotation of said vane to the stator chamber port on the side of said line of tangency in the direction of vane rotation, means selectively blocking and opening communication between the interconnected port-s during rotation of said vane to open communication for a relatively short period closely subsequent to said vane passing said interconnected stator port and to block communication during the remaining rotation of said vane, and ignitor means disposed within said stator chamber adjacent said interconnected stator chamber port.

2. A rotary vane device comprising a cylinder block and head defining a cylindrical stator chamber, a cylinder journalled within said stator chamber between the facing end walls of said block and head for rotation about an eccentric axis relative to the axis of said stator chamber, said cylinder sealingly engaging said facing end walls during rotation to define a rotor chamber sealed from said stator chamber, said cylinder sealingly contacting the peripheral wall of said block along a line of tangency, a drive shaft journalled between said facing end walls for rotation about the axis of said stator chamber, a hub concentrically rigidly mounted upon said shaft for rotation therewith and sealingly contacting the inner peripheral wall of said cylinder along a line of tangency in diametric opposition to said line of tangency between said block and cylinder, at vane projecting radially substantially integrally from said hub and extending in sealed relation through said cylinder into sealing contact with the peripheral wall of said block, the radial edges of said vane in sealing contact with said facing walls, means defining stator chamber inlet and outlet ports in said head respectively communicating with said stator chamber on opposite sides of and closely adjacent said line of tangency between said block and cylinder, said inlet port being on the vane rotational direction side of the line of tangency and said outlet port being on the vane contrarotational direction sid thereof, means defining rotor chamber inlet and outlet ports in said head respectively communicating with said rotor chamber on opposite sides of and closely adjacent said line of tangency between said hub and cylinder, said rotor chamber inlet port being on the vane rotational direction side of the line of tangency and said rotor chamber outlet port being on the vane contrarotational direction side thereof, means intel-connecting said rotor chamber outlet port and stator chamber inlet port, a circular plate coaxially secured to said shaft and intercepting the line of communication between said rotor chamber outlet port and stator chamber inlet port, said plate having an aperture therein registerable with said line of communication, said aperture angularly advanced with respect to the leading face of said vane by an amount commensurate with registration of the aperture with said line of communication closely subsequent to the time said vane passes said stator inlet port, and ignitor means disposed within said stator chamber adjacent said stator inlet port.

3. A rotary vane internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder block and head defining a cylindrical stator chamber, a cylinder journalled within said stator chamber between the facing end walls of said block and head for rotation about an eccentric axis relative to the axis of said stator chamber, said cylinder contacting the peripheral wall of said block along a line of tangency, rotary seal means effecting a seal between the facing end walls of said block and head and the ends of said cylinder to define a sealed rotor chamber therein, a plurality of longitudial compressible sealing elements projecting from the peripheral wall of said block into sealing engagement with said cylinder along said line of tangency, a drive shaft journalled between said facing end walls for rotation about the axis of said stator chamber, a hub concentrically mounted upon said shaft, a plurality of longitudinal compressible sealing elements circumferentially spaced about said hub and projecting therefrom into sealing engagement with the inner peripheral wall of said cylinder along a line of tangency therewith, a vane projecting radially from said hub and extending through said cylinder into adjacent relation with the peripheral Wall of said block, means sealing said vane in its traversal of said cylinder and permitting relative radial movement therebetween, a plurality of U-shaped compressible sealing members circumscribing the edges of said vane and sealingly engaging the peripheral wall of said block and facing end walls of said block and head, means defining stator chamber inlet and outlet ports in said head respectively communicating with said stator chamber on opposite sides of said sealing elements projecting from said block and closely adjacent same, said inlet port being on the vane rotational direction side of said sealing elements and said outlet port being on the vane contrarotational direction side thereof, means defining rotor chamber inlet and outlet ports in said head respectively communicating with said rotor chamber on opposite sides of and closely adjacent the line of contact between said sealing elements projecting from said hub and said cylinder, said rotor chamber inlet port being on the vane rotational direction side of said line of contact and said rotor chamber outlet port being on the vane contrarotational direction side thereof, means communicably interconnecting said rotor chamber outlet port and stator chamber inlet port, a circular plate coaxially secured to said shaft and rotatably mounted within said head to intercept the line of communication between said rotor chamber outlet port and stator chamber inlet port, said plate having an aperture therein registerable with said line of communication and angularly advanced with respect to said vane by an amount commensurate with registration with said line of communication closely subsequent to the time said vane passes said stator inlet port, and a spark plug mounted Within said block and in communication with said stator chamber at a point adjacent said stator inlet port.

4. A rotary vane device comprising means defining a closed cylindrical stator chamber, a cylinder mounted for rotation about an eccentric axis within said stator chamher and defining a rotor chamber sealed from said stator chamber, said cylinder sealingly engaging the peripheral walls of said stator chamber along a line of tangency, a shaft disposed in said rotor chamber and journalled for rotation about the central axis of said stator chamber, a vane mounted rigidly on said shaft and projecting radially through said cylinder in sealed relation thereto and into sealing engagement with the peripheral walls of said stator chamber, said vane extending longitudinally through said rotor and stator chambers and sealingly engaging the end walls thereof, sealing means effecting a rotary seal between said shaft and the inner peripheral wall of said cylinder along a line of contact in diametric opposition to said line of tangency between the cylinder and stator chamber peripheral walls, means defining ports in communication with said rotor chamber on opposite sides of and closely adjacent said rotary seal, means defining ports in communication with said stator chamber on opposite sides of and closely adjacent said line of tangency, means communicably interconnecting the rotor chamber port on the side of said rotary seal in contradirection to rotation of said vane to the stator chamber port on the side of said line of tangency in the direction of vane rotation, a plate coaxially secured to said shaft and intercepting the line of communication between said interconnected ports, said plate having an aperture therein registerable with said line of communication, said aperture annularly advanced with respect .to the leading face of said vane by an amount commensurate with the registration of said aperture with said line of communication closely subsequent to the time said vane passes said interconnected stator chamber port, and ignitor means disposed within said stator chamber adjacent said stator chamber port on the side of said line of tangency in the direction of vane rotation.

No references cited.

MARK NEWMAN, Primary Examiner.

F. T. SADLER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A ROTARY VANE DEVICE COMPRISING MEANS DEFINING A CLOSED CYLINDRICAL STATOR CHAMBER, A CYLINDER MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN ECCENTRIC AXIS WITHIN SAID STATOR CHAMBER AND DEFINING A ROTOR CHAMBER SEALED FROM SAID STATOR CHAMBER, SAID CYLINDER SEALING ENGAGING THE PERIPHERAL WALLS OF SAID STATOR CHAMBER ALONG A LINE OF TANGENCY, A SHAFT DISPOSED IN SAID ROTOR CHAMBER AND JOURNALLED FOR ROTATION ABOUT THE CENTRAL AXIS OF SAID STATOR CHAMBER, A VANE MOUNTED RIGIDLY ON SAID SHAFT AND PROJECTING RADIALLY THROUGH SAID CYLINDER IN SEALED RELATION THERETO AND INTO SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PERIPHERAL WALLS OF SAID STATOR CHAMBER, SAID VANE EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THROUGH SAID ROTOR AND STATOR CHAMBERS AND SEALINGLY ENGAGING THE END WALLS THEREOF, SEALING MEANS EFFECTING A ROTARY SEAL BETWEEN SAID SHAFT AND THE INNER PERIPHERAL WALL OF SAID CYLINDER ALONG A LINE OF CONTACT IN DIAMETRIC OPPOSITION TO SAID LINE OF TANGENCY BETWEEN THE CYLINDER AND STATOR CHAMBER PERIPHERAL WALLS, MEANS DEFINING PORTS IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID MOTOR CHAMBER ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID CLOSELY ADJACENT SAID ROTARY SEAL, MEANS DEFINING PORTS IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID STATOR CHAMBER ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF AND CLOSELY ADJACENT SAID LINE OF TANGENCY MEANS COMMUNICABLY INTERCONNECTING THE ROTOR CHAMBER PORT ON THE SIDE OF SAID ROTARY SEAL IN CONTRA-DIRECTION TO ROTATION OF SAID VANE TO THE STATOR CHAMBER PORT ON THE SIDE OF SAID LINE OF TANGENCY IN THE DIRECTION OF VANE ROTATION, MEANS SELECTIVELY BLOCKING AND OPENING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE INETERCONNECTED PORTS DURING ROTATION OF SAID VANE TO OPEN COMMUNICATION FOR A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD CLOSELY SUBSEQUENT TO SAID VANE PASSING SAID INTERCONNECTED STATOR PORT AND TO BLOCK COMMUNICATION DURING THE REMAINING ROTATION OF SAID VANE, AND IGNITOR MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID STATOR CHAMBER ADAJACENT SAID INTERCONNECTED STATOR CHAMBER PORT. 